MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcat baseball games versus Cincinnati Christian scheduled for Friday and Saturday were washed out due to the heavy rains on those days. The Bethel coaching staff and players did not let that define their week however. The staff and players worked up into the night Saturday night getting the field ready for a Sunday doubleheader against Clarke University.
The Wildcats entered the twin-bill at 7-3 while Clarke came to McKenzie with a 2-7 mark.
Clarke took game one 8-3 while the Wildcats gained the split by winning game two 6-4.
In game one the Pride scored three runs in the 1st, three in the fourth and two in the fifth. The Wildcats scored three in the bottom of the fifth. Bethel managed just three hits in the loss. Sebastian Cortes had an RBI for the Wildcats. Trevor Bishop suffered the loss while Jakob Kirman picked up the win for the visitors from Iowa.
Game two was a different story as the Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Isaac Pender drew a bases loaded walk allowing Sebastian Cortes to score. Cortes then drove in Baylor Steelman in the second to give the Cats a 2-0 lead. He later scored on a wild pitch. Jack Surber led off the third with his third home run of the season. Bethel pushed across two more runs in the inning and led 6-0 after three. The Pride battled back with two runs in the top of the fifth and two runs in the sixth. The Cats were able to hold on however for the two run win. Brandon Degnegaard picked up the Wildcat victory with Antonio Costas credited with the save. Michael Lopez was charged with the Pride loss.
The Bats Cats jump back into action with their first road game of the season traveling to Lebanon, Tennessee Tuesday for a single game at noon against Cumberland University. It will be the 32nd meeting between the two programs. CU leads the series 19-12.
